Collapsible shipping-crate



(No Model.)

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GOLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CRATE.

Patented Apr. 12, 1898.

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lW. 0. PARKER. COLLAPSIBLB SHIPPING CRATE.

No. 602,357. Patented Apr. 12,1898.

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-ATENT WILLIS O. PARKER, OF LEAOH, INDIANA.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,357, dated April 12, 1898. Application filed May A28, 1897. Serial No. 638,588. (N o model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, WILLIS O. PARKER, of Leach, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Shipping- Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to collapsible shipping-crates adapted for use in transporting eggs, poultry, fruit, and the like; and it consists, essentially, of a specific form of side and end pieces, together with a top and bottom, the said bottom and top being employed for storing the sides and ends in arranging the device in compact form.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to simplify this form of device and render the same easily handled and provide .means for quickly setting up the parts thereof or dissembling thel same.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved crate ernbodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the side and one end, showing vthe manner of joining the same, the parts being broken away. Fig; 5 is a detail perspective view of `the parts of the crate shown folded ready for storage or return transportation. A

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indi-l cate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a lower body portion which comprises sides, ends, and bottom, one end having a slot 2 therein. This body portion 1 is of sufficient depth to contain the other parts f the device, which will be presently set forth. Within the said body portion 1 is removably mounted end pieces 3, each of which has a recess 4 in the outer edge thereof, near the bottom, the said recess being of the same length as the depth of the boX of the body portion 1, and the upper shoulders thereof rest upon the top edges of the opposite sides of the body portion, adjacent to the ends thereof. The said end pieces have inwardly-extending strips thereon,which provide retaining-flanges, and the lower ends of the same form the upper limitations or shoulders of the said recesses. The outer portion of the upper edges of said end pieces have cross-strips 6 secured thereto, and under the same are shoulder-strips 7 to form grips for carrying the cratefrom one place to another.

'The inner lower portions of one of the said end pieces have oppositely-situated recesses 8 therein, which open out of the opposite edges thereof, and near the top of the said inner portion of the said end pieces are staples 9which, with the outer strips 5, form guides in which are seated the side pieces 10. The opposite end piece is formed with apertures, and both the recesses and apertures are for a purpose which will now be described. The said side pieces adjacent to their lower edges and at the ends have pins 11 projecting therefrom,which engage the recesses 8 in one end piece and the apertures in the opposite end piece, and the said recesses lead to openings 12 for the reception of said pins.

The sides have their lower edges resting upon the bottom of the bottom portion 1, and their opposite ends are seated `in thev guides formed by the staples 9 and the strips 5. At about the center of the saidfsides 10 upper and lower pairs of staples 18 are arranged and spaced apart from each other, and therein is adapted to be mounted a removable partition 14. This partition can be dispensed with whenever desired and in using the crate for shipping different articles; also, suitable eggcells or analogous devices may be mounted therein and be of any preferred form. Over the entire device a suitable lid or cover 15 is used and has depending cross-strips 16 at the opposite ends extending over the said cover, and on one of said cross-strips 16 are pins 17, with lower angularly-bent ends 18, and through the center of the opposite end and `adjacent strip 16 a locking-catch 18, which may be duplicated, is movably mounted and consists of an angularly-bent wire having a lower engaging end and an upper operating handle or grip.

In arranging the lid or cover 15 in connec- IOO nection with the crate, as shown by Fig. 1, the pins 17 have their bent ends placed against one cross-strip 6, and the catch is then turned to arrange its lower bent end under the lower cross-strip. By this means the said lid or cover is conveniently locked. The operating-lever of the catch may be suitably secured against movement, so as to prevent tampering with the contents of the crate during transportation. When it is desired to return the crate to its owner in empty condition or for storing the same, the end pieces?, and the sides 10 are disconnected and, with the partition 14.-, are placed in the body portion 1, and the lid or cover is then placed over the upper edges of the said body portion by having the bent ends of the pins 17 passed into apertures 19 in one end of said body portion and the latch 1S turned so as to engage the slot 2 in the opposite end. This materially reduces the extent of the crate and permits a great number to be returned empty in a small space, as well as provides for a compact storage when not in use.

In arranging the parts of the crate for receiving materials or articles to be transmitted therein the lower body portion is placed in position to receive the end pieces 3, which are inserted therein, so that the pins 20 on the said end pieces will enter the apertures 21 in the opposite sides of the said body near the ends of the latter, and when the said pins are seated in the said apertures the recesses and outer strips on said end pieces properly engage with the adjacent parts of the said body. The sides are then placed in connection with the end pieces by first inserting them within the body and turning them at one end inwardly, though lirst inserting the pins 11 on one end of each of the sides in the apertures 12 of the end pieces 3, the said pins 11 being guided through the said apertures by the recesses 8. After the pins 11 are seated in the apertures 12 at one end of each of these sides similar pins 11 on opposite ends of the sides are inserted in similar recesses 12 in the opposite end piece 3 by swinging the said ends of the sides now being placed in position outwardly against the sides of the body, this operation being permitted by the formation of the recesses in the said second end piece. In passingthe staples 9, which also assist in holding the sides 10 in position, t-he said sides at the ends thereof which are last connected to the remaining parts of the crate are sprung so as to have the ends of the sides clear of the said staples, when the latter will then assist in holding the parts of the crate articulated against accidental displacement. In collapsing the crate the sides are similarly released by the end pieces S-that is, by first moving one end of each side inwardly into the body of the crate and withdrawing the other end of each side from the opposite end piece. XVhen the sides are thus released, the end pieces may be then easily detached and the sides and ends placed within the body 1.

To firmly secure the end pieces 3 in position, they have pins 2O extending from the lower portions of the opposite edges thereof, which removably enter openings 2l in the sides of the lower body portion. By this means the said side pieces are held in proper upright position and against displacement.

It is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the details of construction andarrangement of the several parts might be made and substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- In a shipping-crate, the combination of a lower body portion, detachable side and end pieces, the said end pieces having openings, staples and outer strips forming guides, and the sides provided with pins to engage the said openings, pairs of staples located on the inner portion of the said sides, a removable partition adapted to engage the said pairs of staples, and a removable lid or cover, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof l have signed this speoilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIS O. PARKER.

NTitnesses:

JAs. K. BARKALON, CHARLES W. GIFT. 

